Editor’s Note

Summiting Mt. Sinai in Egypt

I wanted to be a writer since I was 10 years old. I know this because that’s the age I started keeping a journal. I still have those old notebooks somewhere, but I shudder to think what I was writing about back then. (Probably something painfully mundane like what happened at school that day or my latest altercation with one of my siblings).

 

I remember being part of the editorial team of my grade school paper, and then again in high school. Some people have asked if I wrote for the Collegian in university, and the answer is no, I didn’t, and I don’t know why. But I do remember co-writing the banner story for the paper we produced for our Journ 104 class (Newswriting or Newspaper Production, or something like that). It was about the CPDP, or the Commonwealth Property Development Project, which was a hot topic that many students were railing against at the time. ‘Prayer or Presidentiable Only Ways to Stop CPDP,’ UP President Says was the headline. I also wrote a couple of feature stories inside.

Taking Abby for a weekend stroll

 

After university my first job was in advertising because a friend at the time convinced me to join her as she sent in applications to all the big agencies. I got hired before she did, which I felt surfaced feelings of resentment because she was the one who so badly wanted to get a job in that industry in the first place. It was a short stint for me though; I knew next to nothing about advertising (even though it was part of the curriculum in school) and I worked as a junior media planner that involved a lot of numbers and Excel sheets, which I knew even less about. I was outta there in less than a year.

 

I kicked around and did a few odd jobs for a few months—writer for a PR agency, PA for a TV show on a UHF channel, and even a collections agent for a multinational bank (haha)—before landing a job doing grunt work in the news department of a giant TV network. Even then I continued to find outlets for my desire to write. I submitted an unsolicited essay to an editor of the country’s top music magazine and asked if I could contribute; she took a chance on me and said yes. In between extended shifts at work I found time to write CD reviews, attend gigs, and interview local music acts. I also started a blog, which I updated quite regularly with a more grown-up version of those notebook journals from when I was a kid.

I think I made five trips to Boracay this year

Took me a few months to finish this book

I stayed at the network for six years but I knew it wasn’t where I wanted to be, and the job wasn’t the thing I wanted to be doing for the rest of my days. I went through a phase where I imagined myself working in the foreign service and even briefly considered going back to school to study International Relations. And so I quit to work as a staff member of a foreign embassy in Manila. I had a great boss and met some nice people, and the pay was actually pretty decent, but again, the job itself just wasn’t for me.

 

I heard about an opening for an editor for a magazine and decided to try my luck, submitting as sample articles mostly the stuff I wrote for the music title. The salary was less than half of what I was getting at the embassy, but I took the plunge anyway because, finally, I felt this was the job where the thing I wanted to do and the thing that I felt I was actually good at, finally converged. It was never about the money (although having it certainly made things a lot easier).

One of my favorite stories that I did this year was when I visited this religious colony in Cebu

A few months later, I was back in Cebu and did a story on the vendors of the hundred-year-old Carbon Market, who claim they were being displaced by the redevelopment project

I stayed in the company for eight years; the first two with a men’s title, and the last six for a luxury and society magazine. In 2015, the opportunity to work for the local franchise of an international business title—which was under a competing publishing company—presented itself, and, although I felt rather safe and contented in my cushy old job, I decided to shake things up one more time.

 

At Forbes Philippines I worked under one of the industry’s best and was surrounded by colleagues who were no slouches themselves (we’re talking award-winning journalists). More than the prestige of being part of the pioneering team of a globally recognized title, it was learning firsthand from industry heavyweights that I appreciated most about that initial foray into slightly unfamiliar territory. Too bad the magazine lasted only a couple of years. But my boss recruited me to be part of a new team that would run Entrepreneur Philippines, and I accepted, if only for the privilege of working with and learning from him even more.

In Bohol, I met Mang Nestor, who is one of the last makers of asin tibuok in the island

Also in Bohol, I met Cid, who runs a blademaking enterprise

 

I interviewed Atom Araullo for this year's Man at His Best awards

But the target has always been Esquire. And given my professional trajectory up until this point, you’d understand why I felt that it made sense that I would end up here. The path may not have been a straight line, but, on hindsight, I’m grateful for all those detours because every single one prepared me for where I am now.

 

To me, Esquire has always been about smart, relevant, and insightful content that actually adds something to your life instead of simply stealing your time. It’s a platform that reflects the interests of a person—man, woman, and everything in between—who is always striving to become better versions of themselves. Heck, this is a magazine that has published works by giants of modern-day literature—Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Raymond Carver, Truman Capote, and Stephen King. Naturally, when the magazine made its debut locally, it provided space for the words of our own literary royalty—writers like Butch Dalisay, Krip Yuson, Jessica Zafra, Sarge Lacuesta, and many others.

Vietnam was my first overseas trip after the pandemic

A few weeks later, I found myself going for the first time to New Delhi, India

And one week later, I was walking the streets of Manama, Bahrain

 

I do not claim to be at the level of these distinguished men and women of letters, nor do I fancy myself as some maverick out to change the course of a title that has existed since before World War 2. But I do feel I bring something to this gigantic potluck dinner that so many others have brought appetizing flavors to over the years—a thoughtfulness and sensibility shaped by years in attendant industries, professions, and publications. Everything I studied in school and every job I had before this were all just a rehearsal for the main event. You can say I spent my whole life getting ready for this job and I can only hope I don’t mess it up.

 

To be EIC of a publication today isn’t what it used to be. And, certainly, being EIC of a digital publication isn’t the same as that of a print title. The job description covers much more than developing a content strategy and seeing it through to execution; the basics are there, for sure, but it’s simultaneously much more wide-ranging and nuanced, covering aspects that vary wildly from what an EIC had to deal with 10 or 20 years ago. You don’t need me to tell you how much the landscape of media and the consumption habits of audiences and consumers have changed in the last decade or so, and those pose a different set of challenges—and opportunities—for existing platforms like Esquire. It’s tough but exciting work, and while some days are more stressful than others, the fact that every day is a little bit different than the last  (sometimes a lot different) is reason enough to be grateful. (That I work with a pretty stellar team that could hold their own with some of the best in the business is a very welcome bonus).

Egypt was the trip of a lifetime

And going there with friends made it all the more special

 

Naturally, I acknowledge the furrowed brows and surreptitious stares from those who might question my credentials and scoff at my perceived abilities. But I’d like to think the days of second-guessing myself and crippling impostor syndrome are behind me; or, at least, I’ve brought those down to manageable levels. Besides, if the powers-that-be believe I’ve earned the honor, then that’s all the approval I need. I’ll let my work speak for itself.

That said, I do acknowledge that I stand on the shoulders of the great men and women who have come before me as stewards of this venerable publication and am grateful for the opportunity to take it further. I understand the gravity of this position and not for a second do I take it for granted. My team and I intend to tell more stories that go beyond the painfully mundane and will strive to offer deeper, more meaningful insights on issues that affect Filipinos in the world we live in today. In this iteration of the magazine, the focus is on meaningful storytelling: hopefully the kind that can inspire others to take pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard), just like I did all those years ago.

 

There’s more to come from Esquire Philippines and I hope you join us for the ride. 

 

Here's to the year ahead

PJ Caña

Editor-in-chief

Esquire Philippines

27 December 2022

Interview with Liam Gallagher: “I'm A Little Wiser, A Little Calmer”

The stories I've written over the years are scattered all over the internet. Some are no longer available online. Like this one, which is one of my all-time favorites. It came out in The Manila Times in April 2009. I got to interview Liam Gallagher just before he and his bandmates from Oasis stepped onstage at Singapore's Indoor Stadium. That turned out to be one of their last shows ever as the band called it quits just a few weeks later. My account of the actual concert can be found here.  

Me and Liam. He looks like a wax figure here

Liam Gallagher's handshake is firm, and he doesn't get up from his seat when I meet him inside a function room of the Singapore Indoor Stadium about two hours before he goes up onstage. With his new buzzcut, the creases on his face and the film of wisdom in his eyes, the irrepressible and irreverent frontman of rock supergroup Oasis was looking far less intimidating than in years past, when his wild and often violent ways made headlines around the world. I had no idea what to expect when I was told I would be getting the opportunity to interview one of the most unpredictable and irascible personalities in modern music. I could only hope he would be in one of his better moods. 

“We all got a little bit wiser, a little bit calmer, “ he said in his thick Mancunian accent, in answer to a question on the difference between Oasis in 1995 and 2009. “There's not a lot of drugs knocking around,” he deadpanned, drawing chuckles from the small group of journalists from all over Asia. Oasis played a show at the Lion City as part of their tour to promote their latest album, Dig Out Your Soul.

Keeping Things Fresh

The band is known for performing almost the exact same setlist in every leg of their tour, so I asked Liam how they managed to keep things fresh after doing the same thing night after night. His response was typical Liam: to-the-point and expletive-laden. “I don't really keep things fresh. We just go there and do our thing, innit? We don't change the setlist. It's the same old f****n'; thing. That's how we keep things fresh, by not keeping them fresh.”

Many artists and bands have expressed their admiration for the band by covering their songs, including popular alternative-country act Ryan Adams, who did “Wonderwall,” but, apparently, this doesn't sit well with Liam. 

“I don't like that. That version was too fuckin' pansy. Chris Martin did “Songbird” once and I told him, don't ever f***n' sing that song.”

Has he ever liked anybody else's version of any of their songs?

“Hmm...No. I heard the Foo Fighters do “Lyla” once. It sounded like the song was being f***ing murdered.”

But Liam does have a soft spot for at least a couple of bands out there. “The only one band that I consider any good at the moment is Kasabian. They look good, the music's great, they've got soul, and they're f***in' mad live. They're really great performers. The Arctic Monkeys are all right, but not as good as Kasabian. They're the best band around...” He pauses a moment before adding. “Well, second best band.” But of course.

Interviewing Liam

Something different

Someone asked Liam about the new album and without hesitating, he said, “I don't know if there's anything special in it. It's just a good album. I dunno if there's anything special. It's just a good piece of music. The sound is good.” The journalist presses Liam about “Dig Out Your Soul,” particularly about its cover art, but Liam is clueless. “What does it mean? I dunno.  Who did it? I dunno who made it...but I like it.” 

Apart from music and touring, Liam is also busy these days with the clothing line he recently launched called Pretty Green. Yes, the rock and roll star is also into fashion. 

“I just wanted to do something different, d'you know what I mean? When we finish this tour, I don't want to be stuck at home twiddling my thumbs waiting for Noel's f***in' instructions. I think clothes are equally important as the music. There's no point in writing good songs if you look like a f***in' idiot. So you've got to dress cool. You've got to write cool songs. If people like it, they like it. If they don't, they don't. They don't have to buy it.”

Twitter addict

Liam, who once said he wasn't into all the techy stuff said he now uses the social networking application Twitter. “I'm kind of enjoying it. You can get [feedback] direct from people. So if someone is saying shit about you, you can sort of quash the rumors right away.”

The rock star, who married All Saints member Nicole Appleton and has four kids, said that absent all the hoopla surrounding him and Oasis, he lives a pretty normal life back in England. 

“[When we're on tour, I miss] the routine of everyday life. I do like just getting up, sending the kids to school, going to the park. Just normal things, like going for a drink.” 

“Although I don't drink that much,” he was quick to add. 

The boys onstage later that night

Misconception

Throughout the interview, I was on edge, half-waiting for Liam to suddenly throw one of his infamous fits or perhaps even throw a punch if he didn't like a question. But it never happened. Instead, he was a breezy subject, candid and forthright about everything; polite even, but not mincing words either. 

I asked him what he thought the biggest misconception was about him, given his extremely colorful and eventful life. “I dunno man. If people f***in' piss me off then I can be a c**t, d'you know what I mean? But if people are cool, then I'm cool with them. Then obviously the people who write shit about me are obviously c**ts and I piss them off. So there you go. I don't care what people think. That's none of my business.” 

Perhaps it was because Liam wasn't turning out to be the arrogant, self-involved rock star everyone thought he was that other journalists became more daring in their questions. Asked why he was so critical of other bands, Liam patiently replied: “I'm not critical of anyone. People ask me a question, 'Do I like their music, then I'll say no. But say I like lots of other bands – they never write about that. They always write about the ones I f***in' don't like. And it's my right to not like them. It's my opinion. It's not like I ask for a [press] conference just to shoot some guns off. I go about my business. Somebody asks me what I think about Franz Ferdinand, and I f***in' tell them they're shit. That's what it is. I don't want them to die of a car crash or a paper cut or something. I just don't like their music. They're not my music. I hate shitty music.”

A concert of a lifetime

He's still a hellraiser, that much is certain, but a far tamer and less rowdy version. The rock star who used to figure in brawls and butt heads with almost everyone he came across (even his own brother, bandmate Noel) may have mellowed down considerably, but the attitude and spunk are still there, hidden behind his light blue eyes and assault of one-liners and expletives. And to music's great credit, it looks like we'll still be on the receiving end of Oasis's onslaught for years to come. 

“As long as we enjoy it, and we obviously enjoy it, there'll still be Oasis. I'm not doing it for the money, although that's nice. But definitely, I'm doing it because I like it, and that's where I get my kicks from, going onstage singing songs, making people happy, d'you know what I mean? So I'd do it forever. The Rolling Stones are still at it. What's the point of splitting up if you're enjoying it, just so you can say 'Hey man, we split up.' Whoopee.”